--- title: The Consumerisation of Talent description: A shift in employee behaviour has seen the growth of the talent consumer. This consumerisation of talent has implications for talent management activities. --- [![HeadLight-logo-from LF for website](https://blog.head-light.co.uk/hubfs/HeadLight_Sep2016/HeadLight-logo-from%20LF%20for%20website.png)](https://head-light.co.uk/) - [About Us](https://head-light.co.uk/what-makes-head-light-different/) ### [Our Clients Our clients come from industry, justice, government and not for profit sectors.](https://head-light.co.uk/our-clients/) ### [Case Studies Find out what people have said about Head Light and how we have helped.](https://blog.head-light.co.uk/case-studies) ### [Client Charter We like to be clear and upfront in how we work – and how we won’t work. 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It requires robust and secure software, solid processes and great administrators.](https://head-light.co.uk/administrator-training/) - [Our Blog](https://blog.head-light.co.uk) - [Blue Light Services](https://head-light.co.uk/blue-light-services/) ### [Blue Light User Group Sharing talent management best practice and collaborating on new features to the Talent platform.](https://head-light.co.uk/blue-light-user-group/) ### [Talent Management for Police 360, PDR and talent and succession planning for police officers and staff.](https://head-light.co.uk/talent-management-for-police-forces/) ### [Talent Management for Fire and Rescue Services 360, PDR and succession planning for fire and rescue services.](https://head-light.co.uk/talent-management-for-fire-and-rescue-services/) [TELL ME MORE](https://head-light.co.uk/contact-us/) # The Consumerisation of Talent --- ### In these times of increasing employee choice, Generation Z and the ‘portfolio career’, do we think about the top talent – and those with the key skills we need – as consumers? Do our managers? Do we tailor our engagement programs, develop career and succession plans to reflect their needs, make feedback, growth and performance conversations a way of life and develop an ‘offer’ that appeals to them? Are we ready for the consumerisation of talent? Recent research by the Henley Business School Centre for HR Excellence suggests not… Professor Nick Kemsley, Co-Director of the Centre for HR Excellence at Henley Business School and Director at Head Light, shares the findings of this research, the trends and what this means for HR in a series of three videos. **A shift is emerging in employee behaviour** In the [first video,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZyUTIoai7Y) Professor Nick Kemsley draws on the research from Henley Business School and highlights how, when you draw together the latest workplace and employee trends, a shift can be seen both in the attitude towards work by talented employees and the relationship with employers. He suggests that people with the skills which are in demand hold a highly powerful position. He challenges organisations to start to think differently about its talented people – and how we talk, work and engage with them. **The emergence of the Talent Consumer ** In the [second video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMQOodtXZaQ), Professor Nick Kemsley talks about what these trends and emerging new behaviours, might mean for talent management. He suggests that employees and potential employees are beginning to act like consumers – like career consumers – and exhibit many of the behaviours that we exhibit as consumers of products and services. As such, what can we learn from our marketing colleagues? **A change in thinking and action is needed ** In the [final video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeTeGkWvi2k), Professor Nick Kemsley flags that the current organisational response to these trends is somewhat patchy. He suggests that the shift required will move us away from some of the current thinking and towards to a more discretionary relationship between an employer and an employee. This requires developing a proper employee value proposition, a re-focus on line managers as talent managers and a better understanding of how our employees feel about work, their needs and whether those needs are being satisfied. If you would like to keep in touch regarding our latest thinking and developments in Talent Management software, then do register to [receive our newsletter](https://head-light.co.uk/newsletter/).   [Trends in Talent Management](https://blog.head-light.co.uk/topic/trends-in-talent-management) ## Related posts ### [The Police Leadership Commission Report: What It Means for Your Force](https://blog.head-light.co.uk/police-leadership-commission-report-what-it-means-for-your-force) The Police Leadership Commission report sets a clear direction for policing - and it has immediate i... 23 Jul 2026 ### [Organisational Insight: evidence that organisations fail to use](https://blog.head-light.co.uk/organisational-insight-evidence-not-used) Organisational insight is one of the most underestimated assets available to HR and business leaders... 13 Jul 2026 ### [How your Workforce Intelligence platform turns data into signals](https://blog.head-light.co.uk/workforce-intelligence-platform-turns-data-into-signals) Every organisation generates data about its people continuously. Performance ratings, development ac... 13 Jul 2026 [![HeadLight-logo-from LF for website](https://blog.head-light.co.uk/hubfs/HeadLight_Sep2016/HeadLight-logo-from%20LF%20for%20website.png)](https://head-light.co.uk/) [![Fosway-2025](https://blog.head-light.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Fosway-2025-150x150.jpg?width=150&height=150&name=Fosway-2025-150x150.jpg)](https://blog.head-light.co.uk/news/head-light-fosway-grid-2025)   ### Useful Links - [Home](https://head-light.co.uk/) - [About](https://head-light.co.uk/what-makes-head-light-different/) - [Workforce Signals](https://head-light.co.uk/workforce-intelligence-platform/) - [Products](https://head-light.co.uk/products-overview/) - [Blue Light Services](https://head-light.co.uk/blue-light-services/) ### Workforce Signals - [Capability Intelligence](https://head-light.co.uk/workforce-intelligence-platform/workforce-mobility/) - [Organisational Insight](https://head-light.co.uk/workforce-intelligence-platform/organisational-insight/) - [Succession Intelligence](https://head-light.co.uk/workforce-intelligence-platform/organisational-insight/) - [View All](https://head-light.co.uk/workforce-intelligence-platform/) ### Our Products - [Talent 360](https://head-light.co.uk/products-overview/talent-360/) - [Talent Performance](https://head-light.co.uk/products-overview/talent-performance/) - [Talent Navigator](https://head-light.co.uk/products-overview/talent-navigator/) - [View All](https://head-light.co.uk/products-overview/) ### Consultancy & Training - [Consultancy & Training Services](https://head-light.co.uk/consultancy-training/) - [Designing your competency framework](https://head-light.co.uk/designing-your-competency-framework/) - [360 and performance assessment design](https://head-light.co.uk/assessment-design/) ### Support - [Contact](https://head-light.co.uk/contact-us/) - [Blog](https://blog.head-light.co.uk) - [FAQs](https://head-light.co.uk/faqs/) - [Resources](https://head-light.co.uk/resources/) - [News](https://blog.head-light.co.uk/news)   Copyright © Head Light Ltd. 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